Wheel or gear puller

ABSTRACT

A tool of the wheel or gear puller type including a hub having a threaded jack shaft supported therein, and yoke arms radially extending from the hub. The yoke arms each consist of a pair of spaced, parallel portions having parallel lateral edges whereby the portions define a slot-like recess receiving hangers upon which pulling implements are mounted. The hangers are radially adjustable within the associated yoke arm and fastening means are defined on the hangers for fixing the radial position of each hanger with respect to the hub.

United States Patent Kelso Sept. 12, 1972 [54] WHEEL OR GEAR PULLER [72] Inventor: Robert E. Kelso, Jackson, Mich.

[73] Assignee: 'Dowley Manufacturing, Inc.,

Spring Arbor, Mich.

[22] Filed: Nov. 26, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 880,153

[52] US. Cl ..29/259 [51] Int. Cl. ..B23p 19/04 [58] Field of Search ..29/258, 259, 261, 262

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,607,592 11/1926 Marciano et a1 .l ..29/259 1,478,648 12/1923 Grahek ..29/259 3,100,931 8/1963 Barnes ..29/261 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Germany ..29/259 Primary ExaminerAndrew R. .luhasz Assistant Examiner-Leon Gilden Att0rneyBeaman & Beaman [57] ABSTRACT A tool of the wheel or gear puller type including a hub having a threaded jack shaft supported therein, and

yoke arms radially extending from the hub. The yoke arms each consist of a pair of spaced, parallel portions having parallel lateral edges whereby the portions define a slot-like recess receiving hangers upon which pulling implements are mounted. The hangers are radially adjustable within the associated yoke arm and fasteningmeans are defined on the hangers for fixing the radial position of each hanger with respect to the hub.

. 2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEP 12 m2 3.689.978

' lll l' 25 K 5; F102 52 I-q 92 INVENTOR v OBERT E. KEL 0 ATTORNEYS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention pertains to tools commonly know as wheel or gear pullers wherein a threaded shaft is mounted upon a yoke to which pulling implements are affixed. One end of the threaded shaft is adapted to engage the end of a shaft having the gear to be pulled mounted thereon, and the pulling implements engage the wheel or gear to be pulled from its shaft.

Tools for removing gears, fly wheels, bearings, hubs and the like from their associated shaft have been used for many years, and these tools usually basically consist of a yoke or bridge member having a thread jack shaft extending through the central region thereof. Pulling implements or work engaging elements are mounted upon the yoke or bridge, and include shoulders or surfaces usually adapted to be located behind the wheel or gear to be pulled while the threaded jack shaft engages the end of the shaft on which the wheel or gear is mounted. Rotation of the jack shaft causes the pulling implements to draw the wheel or gear toward the jack shaft for removal from the shaft.

A number of types of construction have been utilized with this type of tool for mounting the pulling implement upon the yoke or bridge. The most common arrangement is to pivotally connect the pulling implements to the yoke by pivots and link wherein a single size of puller tool may accommodate a number of sizes of gears or wheels. Most pullertools are readily adaptable for use with different sizes of gears or wheels, within the limits of capacity of the tool, and in the design of the tool, to permit its universal use with different sizes of wheels or gears, the provision of links and pivots in the pulling implements produces compromises in the design which-often affect the operation of the tool. For instance, the limited radial adjustment of which most puller tools are capable of with respect to the mounting of the puller implement upon the yoke usually results in the tension forces created in the pulling implements not being parallel to the compression force present in the jack shaft. Due to the forces within the jack shaft and the pulling implement not being parallel difficulty is often encountered in maintaining engagement of the implement and the wheel or gear being pulled, resulting in the puller losing its grip upon the wheel or gear and necessitating readjustment a reassembly of the tool upon the wheel being pulled. It is not uncommon for the mounting of the puller on the gear to have to be repeated several times before the wheel or gear is sufficiently axially displaced upon its shaft to permit removal.

Also, conventional puller tools, particularly those employing linkages in the pulling implement, are difficult to assemble to the wheel or gear to be pulled. Proper assembly to the member to be pulled requires that the jack shaft be properly axially positioned with respect to the yoke such that the pulling implements are capable or engaging the back surface of the wheel or gear. Thus, it is necessary to place the tool upon the wheel or gear while holding the pulling implements in engagement therewith, and simultaneously rotate the jack shaft until sufficient forces are produced in the tool for it to hold itself in position. During this procedure it is important that the yoke be properly related to the wheel, usually in a diametrical relationship, so that the pull exerted on the wheel will not tend to cook the same, but will be parallel to the wheel shaft. Accordingly, considerable skill and dexterity is required in using a wheel or gear pulling tool of conventional construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a wheel or gear puller type tool which may be economically produced, is 'more readily usuable than pullers of conventional construction, is infinitely variable in its size adjustment, and is capable of modification to increase its versatility.

It is one of the features of the invention that the puller is so constructed that a wide range of infinite adjustment, within its capacity, is possible, and at each adjustment parallel forces in the pulling implements and the jack screw will always exist. This relationship practically eliminates the problem of the puller losing its grip on on the wheel or gear being pulled, and prevents damage to the tool, and cooking or binding of the wheel or gear as it is being pulled.

Yet another feature of the invention lies in the use of fastening means with the hangers mounted upon the yoke arms to which the pulling implements are attached. The fastening means on the hangerspermits the hangers, and pulling implements, to be firmly radially fixed with respect to the jack shaft, and the axis of the shaft upon which the wheel or gear being pulled is Once once the pulling implement and hanger are correctly adjusted with respect to the jack shaft a rigid relationship of all of the components of the tool exists which renders the handling of the tool, and the mounting thereof on the shaft and-wheel considerably simplified with respect to the use of more conventional tools.

The puller of the invention utilizes a yoke which consists of arms radially extending from a centrally located hub which receives the threaded jack shaft. The yoke arms each consists of a plurality of parallel spaced portions interconnected at their outer ends whereby a slot exists between the portions receiving the hangers to which the pulling implements are attached. Each of the yoke arm portions include parallel lateral edges, and the hangers include shoulder surfaces which overlap the edges and are capable of being tightened into a firm frictional locking engagement therewith to position the hanger and pulling implement with respect to the yoke. The presence of the slot in the yoke arms permits infinite radial adjustment of the pulling implement within the capacity of the puller tool, and the fastening means utilized with the hangers is of the nut type as to be easily operated, yet producing a firm interconnection between the hanger and yoke when the nut is tightened.

In that a nut type fastening means is used with the hangers, the hangers include stem received within the yoke arm slot having a noncircular configuration which prevents rotation of the hanger as its nut member is tightened. Thus, hand of the nut member can be accomplished.

A further improvement of the invention lies in the use of quick release means with the hangers wherein a variety of pulling implements may be quickly attached to or removed from the hangers, thereby increasing the versatility of the tool, and permitting the most desirable size and shape of pulling implement to be used or a particular application.

The puller tool of the invention will usually be constructed in the form wherein two diametrically opposed arms are employed. However, the inventive concepts may be utilized with a puller tool having three or more arm portions, and a three arm yoke is disclosed as an embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The aforementioned objects and the advantages derived from a pulley constructed in accord with the invention will be appreciated from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a puller tool in accord with the invention, a portion thereof broken away for purpose of illustration,

FIG. 2 is an end view of the tool of FIG. 1 as taken from the top thereof,

FIG. 3 is an elevational, sectional, enlarged, detail view taken through a hanger along Section III-III of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a plan, enlarged, detail, sectional view taken along Section IVIV of FIG. l,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, detail elevational, sectional view taken through an embodiment of hanger and pulling implement along Section VV of FIG. 6,

FIG. 6 is an elevational, sectional viewof the embodiment of FIG. 5 taken along Section VIVI thereof, and

FIG 7 is an end view of a modification of yoke construction wherein-three yoke arms are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The general arrangement of the components of a wheel or gear puller in accord with the invention will be appreciated from FIGS. 1 and 2. In these figures the yoke or bridge 10 is of an elongated configuration and includes a central region 12 in which the hub 14 is located. The hub 14 is formed as a cylindrical member having an internal threaded bore 16 which receives the threaded jack shaft 18. The jack shaft 18 isprovided with a hexagonal head 20 at one end wherein a wrench may be applied thereto for rotating the shaft and end 22 of the shaft is provided with a point, as is conven tional, for with the center of the shaft upon which the wheel or gear being pulled is mounted. A pair of washer-like elements 24 are located at each end of the hub, and may be welded or otherwise affixed to the hub, or may be formed as an integral part thereof during the manufacture of the hub. The washers 24 are of such a diameter as to extend over the lateral edges of the yoke portions, as will be later described, and these washers aid in preventing displacement between the hub and the yoke during pulling. Additionally, the hub 14 is welded to the yoke at the inner surfaces of the yoke portions.

The yoke consists of arms, generally indicated at 26, which are radially disposed with respect to the hub 14. The arms 26 are each formed of a pair of portions 28, each of which include a flat inner surface 30 and lateral edges 32 and 34. The like lateral edges of the portions 28 forming a common arm are in alignment such that a plane passing through the edges 32 and 32, or 34 and 34 are parallel to each other, and perpendicularly disposed to the axis of the jack shaft 18. The inner surfaces 30 of the portions of a common arm are in parallel spaced arrangement to each other, and the outer ends of the portions 28 are interconnected as described below.

Preferably, the yoke 10, illustrated in FIGS. l and 2, is formed of two strap metal sections 36 and 38 welded together at 40 and 42. Each strap sections forms a portion 28 of each arm 26, and the central region of each strap is formed as a convex concave cylindrical segment to closely receive and accommodate the hub 14 After the straps are welded at their ends the weld is sanded or ground, and after the yoke is plated or painted, the two-piece construction of the yoke is not visible. The width of the yoke as defined by the distance separating the lateral edges 32 and 34 of a common arm portion will usually be at least [9% inches in dimension, and the thickness of a yoke portion 28 will usually be at least one quarter of an inch. Thus, the yoke 10 is capable of resisting high pulling forces without undue deflection or deformation even though economically constructed.

pulling implements are mounted to the yoke by means of hangers 44, a hanger being associated with each yoke arm. The hangers include a stem portion 46 which is received between the portions 28 of each yoke arm, and this stem portion is of a non-circular configuration, such as hexagonal, so as to define parallel flats 48 disposed adjacent the inner surfaces 30 of the arm portions, and thereby prevent rotation of the hangers relative to the yoke, while permitting radial sliding movement of the hangers within the associated yoke arm. The hanger portion disposed toward the pulling implement is provided with a shoulder 50 adapted to engage the associated arm lateral edges 34 and 34'.

The other end of the stem 46 is provided with threads 52 for receiving the knurled nut member 54, which may be threaded onto the stern sufficiently to engage the arm lateral edges 32 and 32. Thus, it will be appreciated that tightening of the nut 54 draws the shoulder 50 into a firm frictional engagement with its associated edges, and a frictional connection also exists between the nut member and the engaged lateral edges 32 and 32'. When a hanger 44 is to be radially adjusted within a yoke arm, the nut 54 is loosened to permit radial adjustment of the hanger in the slot 56 defined by surfaces 30, and once the desired radial position of the hanger is achieved the nut member is tightened on the stem to lock and hold the hanger on the yoke.

The pulling implement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 consists of a rod 58 formed integral with the hanger 44 and extending therefrom. The rod is provided with a head I 60, having a shoulder surface 62 defined thereon which is adapted to be engaged by the side of the wheel or gear to be pulled. The head 60 may be shaped with a concave cylindrical recess 64, or other configuration, to facilitate its use with wheels or gears.

In operation, the nut members 54 are loosened wherein the hangers and pulling implements may be radially positioned as desired with respect to the hub and jack shaft 18. The jack shaft will then be off sufficiently to permit the heads 60 to be slipped behind the gear wheel to be pulled, and the yoke 10 is related in a diametrical relationship with respect to the axial projection of the gear or wheel. Thereupon, the jack shaft is rotated to move the point 22 into engagement with the end of the gear shaft, and the jack shaft is continued to be rotated to pull the wheel from the shaft in a known manner.

As the hangers 44 are firmly positioned on the yoke by the tightening of the nut members 54, there is no possibility for the rods 58 and the heads 60 to radially move away from each other and the gear or wheel engaged. Thus, during the pulling operation the components of the puller are rigidly related to each other and the puller will not lose its engagement with the gear or wheel during pulling. Since the use of the slot 56, and the nut members, permits a very accurate and infinite radial adjustment of the hangers, the head shoulders 62 can be adjusted to provide maximum engagement with the gear or wheel being pulled.

FIGS. 5 and 6 disclose a variation in a hanger construction which permits a variety of configurations of pulling implements to be quickly attached to or removed from the puller tool. The hanger 65 of FIGS. 5 and 6 includes a body portion 66 having a slot 68 defined therein. A hole 70 is formed in the body transversely intersecting the slot 68, and this hole receives a headed quick release pin 72 for holding a pulling implement in the slot as will be later described. The body 66 also includes a stem 74 which extends intermediate the inner surfaces 30 of the yoke portions 28, and a knurled nut member 54' identical to that used in the previously described embodiment, is associated with the upper threaded end of the stem.

The portion of the stem 74 adjacent the body 66 is formed with an enlarged foot 76, which is milled, or otherwise provided with parallel flat surfaces on its opposite sides to provide flats 78 which cooperate with the inner surfaces 30 of the arm portions to prevent rotation of the hangers with respect to the associated yoke arm. Also, a radial shoulder 79 is formed on the body 66 which overlies the edges 34 and 34'. In this manner the hanger 65 may be radially adjusted on its associated yoke arm, as previously described, and yet the hanger will not rotate relative to the yoke as the nut member is being tightened or loosened.

The pulling implements used with hanger 65 may take a number of forms, and each form includes a flattened portion 80 which is receivable within the slot 68 and a hole 84 is formed in this portion. Of course, each pulling implement will include a shoulder 82, or other configuration for cooperation with the wheel or gear to be pulled. Upon the implement flattened portion 80 being received within the slot 68 the quick release pin 72 is inserted in the hole 70 upon alignment of the hold 84 of the implement with the body hole. Thus, the pin 72 will establish a connection between the implement 86 and the hanger 65, and and as the direction of the plane of the slot 68, and the implement flattened portion 80, is at right angles to the length of the associated yoke arm the disclosed hanger is capable of preventing radial movement of the pulling implement with respect to the axis of the jack shaft. If it is desired to change pulling implements, the pin 72 may be quickly removed from the holes 70 and 84 and a new pulling implement received within the slot 68 and the pin reinserted.

FIG. 7 illustrates a variation in configuration of yoke wherein three arm portions are used. A puller constructed in accord with the embodiment of FIG. 7 would use three hangers and pulling implements, not shown, the hangers and pulling implements being associated with each arm portion in a manner identical to that previously described.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7 the hub 88 may be identical to that of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, and three strap portions 90 are employed to form the yoke, each strap being of generally V-shaped configuration, and the other ends of the straps are welded at 92, to define the desired yoke configuration. The hub 14, which includes washers 94, and threaded bore 96, is welded to all three portions where they converge toward each other and the washers 94 overlie the lateral edges of the strap portions. By forming the yoke in the described manner conventional metal shaping apparatus may be employed in the fabrication of the tool and expensive dies or molds are not required.

It will therefore be appreciated that the puller of the invention may be use with gears and wheel in an advantageous manner with respect to known puller constructions, and the fact that the components of the puller in particular, the hangers add pulling impliments, can be firmly affixed and related to the yoke during pulling assures uniform and parallel forces within the puller, and the gear or wheel being pulled, which reduces the likelihood of damage to the tool or gear, and produces a much more consistent pulling operation than previously attainable.

I claim:

1. A tool of the wheel puller type comprising, in combination, a yoke defined by strap material portions bent into a yoke configuration, said portions each being of a substantially fiat configuration having flat sides and substantially parallel first and second lateral edges and of a substantially uniform rectangular transverse cross section and including arcuately bent ends bent transversely to the associated portion flat configuration, said yoke including a central region and having a plurality of arms radially extending from said central region each having a closed outer end, said arms and central region being defined by spaced, strap portions and said arms outer ends defined by interconnected strap portion arcuate ends abuttingly welded together, said first and second lateral edges of the straps defining a common arm being respectively aligned whereby said aligned edges lie in parallel planes substantially perpendicular to the fiat sides of the straps defining said common arm, the flat sides of said strap portions defining a common arm being in opposed, spaced, parallel relation to each other defining yoke arm inner surfaces, a hub member having a threaded bore defined therein having an axis and fixedly mounted in said central region intermediate said strap portions, said hub member including spaced, opposed, shoulder surfaces defined thereon lying in planes transversely disposed to the axis of said bore, one of said shoulder surfaces engaging said first lateral edges of said yoke arm portions, and the other said shoulder surfaces engaging said second lateral edges of said yoke arms, a threaded jack shaft received within said bore, a tool hanger mounted upon each yoke arm extending between said strap portions thereof and radially slidably positionable on the associated arm, fastening means associated with each hanger for selectively fixing said hangers with respect to the associated arm, said hanger fastening means including a threaded stern defined on each tool hanger extending between said strap portions of the associated yoke arm, a nut member threaded on said stem engaging and selectively fixing the associated hanger to the associated yoke arm, a pair of spaced parallel flats defined upon opposite sides of said stem disposed adjacent said inner surfaces of the associated yoke arm hangers connecting said pulling implement to its associated hanger. 

1. A tool of the wheel puller type comprising, in combination, a yoke defined by strap material portions bent into a yoke configuration, said portions each being of a substantially flat configuration having flat sides and substantially parallel first and second lateral edges and of a substantially uniform rectangular transverse cross section and including arcuately bent ends bent transversely to the associated portion flat configuration, said yoke including a central region and having a plurality of arms radially extending from said central region each having a closed outer end, said arms and central region being defined by spaced, strap portions and said arms'' outer ends defined by interconnected strap portion arcuate ends abuttingly welded together, said first and second lateral edges of the Straps defining a common arm being respectively aligned whereby said aligned edges lie in parallel planes substantially perpendicular to the flat sides of the straps defining said common arm, the flat sides of said strap portions defining a common arm being in opposed, spaced, parallel relation to each other defining yoke arm inner surfaces, a hub member having a threaded bore defined therein having an axis and fixedly mounted in said central region intermediate said strap portions, said hub member including spaced, opposed, shoulder surfaces defined thereon lying in planes transversely disposed to the axis of said bore, one of said shoulder surfaces engaging said first lateral edges of said yoke arm portions, and the other said shoulder surfaces engaging said second lateral edges of said yoke arms, a threaded jack shaft received within said bore, a tool hanger mounted upon each yoke arm extending between said strap portions thereof and radially slidably positionable on the associated arm, fastening means associated with each hanger for selectively fixing said hangers with respect to the associated arm, said hanger fastening means including a threaded stem defined on each tool hanger extending between said strap portions of the associated yoke arm, a nut member threaded on said stem engaging and selectively fixing the associated hanger to the associated yoke arm, a pair of spaced parallel flats defined upon opposite sides of said stem disposed adjacent said inner surfaces of the associated yoke arm strap portions preventing rotation of said stem and hanger relative to the associated yoke arm, and a pulling implement associated with each of said hangers.
 2. In a tool of the type as in claim 1, quick release pulling implement attachment means comprising a smooth surfaced axially slidable pin defined upon said hangers connecting said pulling implement to its associated hanger. 